�Chemists are pulling cancer onto a sucker puncher by acquiring infected cells to drop their guard - according to inquiry published of late. They are using the metal atomic number 44 as a catalyst to a cancer-busting reaction which calls up an old cellular enemy - oxidants - as an friend.
Cancer adapts quickly to traditional drugs which attack infected cells directly. But the a la mode laboratory tests reveal a second line of defensive structure using atomic number 44 as a catalyst to a reaction which michigan cells developing the antioxidant chemical glutathione.
As the targeted cellular phone is forced to set down its glutathione defences, the oxidant levels increase, and the cancerous cell dies.
University of Warwick Chemistry Professor Peter Sadler explained: "We know oxidants acquire free radicals that wrong cells. Our experiments show ruthenium produces a reaction in the cell which destroys its anti-oxidant denial glutathione - thus destroying the cancer-infected cell.
"Working with colleagues in Edinburgh University and Oncosense we've proved this could be an effective line of defence against cancer."
Scientists working on the project now hope to move the research out of the laboratory - the next level for this work would be aesculapian trials.
The research was funded the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - August 2008.
University of Warwick
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